Sunday, April 29, 2012

Study: Daily Preventive Therapies Significantly Reduce Migraines

The latest American Academy of Neurology/American Headache Society Guidelines released this week outline evidence-based and effective treatments that can prevent migraine attacks and lessen their severity. According to guidelines published on the American Academy of Neurology's website, 38 percent of migraine sufferers require preventive therapy, but just three to 13 percent currently use it. An added concern is that patients are taking treatments that have never been demonstrated to work. Most importantly, the guidelines assert that migraine prevention requires taking medication daily, rather than only when in the throes of an attack.

"What the guidelines do is pinpoint first-line treatments based on evidence and effectiveness," said Mark Green, MD, director of the Headache Center at Mount Sinai School of Medicine, in New York. "If these guidelines are used widely, we will be able to up the odds of reducing headaches by 50 percent."

"Moreover, the stakes may be high if we undertreat migraines," said Dr. Green. "Evidence is building to suggest that if we allow migraines to progress, the frequency of attacks may increase, and they may also become harder to treat." Dr. Green compared it to the hazards linked to issues like under treating high blood pressure and asthma, which can lead to significant problems.

Evidence-Based Preventive Treatments First-line prescription drugs with the strongest evidence for prevention must be taken every day to prevent migraine attacks and reduce the severity of attacks.

The guidelines panel found the following:

• The anti-seizure medications divalproex sodium, sodium valproate, and topiramate, as well as beta blockers metoprolol, propranol, and tumolol, are effective for migraine prevention. The antiseizure drug lamotrigine was not effective in preventing migraine, and should not be used.

No comments:

Important! Read This! Blogs are Not Medical Professionals

The information contained on this Web site is news, general EDUCATION & INFORMATION and should NOT be used as a substitute for the medical care and advice of your physician.

The information contained in or made available through this site cannot replace or substitute for the services of trained professionals in the medical field.

There may be variations in treatment that your physician may recommend based on individual facts and circumstances.

This Blog is not intended to endorse or to recommend any particular physician, treatment, drug, food or supplement. You should regularly consult a doctor in all matters relating to physical or mental health, particularly concerning any symptoms that may require diagnosis or medical attention.

Any images of people in this BLOG are NOT actual patients. These photos are of models or from publically available photos. These are not actual patients.